Just as analogues of meat are becoming more commonplace, so innovative companies are using new textures to replace traditional animal-based style products.
The latest designer to experiment in this way is Stella McCartney who has just unveiled two garments—a bustier and trousers—made with mushroom-based vegan leather Mylo.
Mylo has been developed by a biotech startup Bolt Threads, which has worked in the past with the designer in creating alternatives to silk. The company claims the material is not just better for animals, as it doesn’t use their bi-products but also delivers lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions and water and land use.
Further, while the process of developing cow leather takes many years, Mylo is grown in a matter of days and is infinitely renewable. It is also
The two items are a mix Mylo and recycled scuba nylon.
Although neither of the garments are available for purchase, they were created to highlight some of the potential of the material
Stella McCartney said
“I believe the Stella community should never have to compromise luxury desirability for sustainability, and Mylo allows us to make that a reality,”. “These rare, exclusive pieces embody our shared commitment with Bolt Threads to innovate a kinder fashion industry—one that sees the birth of beautiful, luxurious materials as opposed to the deaths of our fellow creatures and planet.”
“Creating new, high-quality biomaterials is a major technological challenge and a massive opportunity for people and the planet. I am incredibly grateful and humbled by Stella and her team for their long-term partnership and support in bringing Mylo to the world,” Dan Widmaier, CEO and founder of Bolt Threads, said. “The material used in these two garments not only represents a huge step forward in both aesthetics and performance of biomaterials, but also marks the beginning of the rollout of product-ready Mylo. This is tangible progress toward large-scale production where Mylo can make a significant positive impact on our planet.”
